Designing a CRCP involves dimensioning the different geometric pavement features such as thickness, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, construction joints, slab width, shoulders, and pavement transitions based on site-specific traffic, climatic, and foundation parameters. The designer selects pavement designs that will be suitable to achieve the desired performance level for the design period selected. As in all pavement designs, the goal is to use locally available materials to the greatest extent possible, but without compromising pavement performance.

The crack spacing, crack width, steel stress, and bond development length generated as a function of reinforcement restraint and climatic conditions each affect the CRCP structural integrity in the long term. It is important that precautions are taken during the CRCP design, materials selection, and construction process so that a crack pattern develops that minimizes development of pavement distresses.

It should also be noted that many of these design aspects described on this website are common to all concrete pavements – not just CRCP. As a result, and for brevity, some aspects of concrete pavement design will not be expanded upon herein. Instead, guidance should be sought from the appropriate design references such as the AASHTO-86/93 Guide.